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Once again, Canucks forced to put bad loss ‘in the garbage can’

Avalanche Canucks Hockey

Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brad Stuart (17) celebrates Jarome Iginla’s goal past Vancouver Canucks goalie Eddie Lack, left, as Canucks defenseman Luca Sbisa (5) watches during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 26, 2015, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jonathan Hayward)

AP

For a team that’s won almost 60 percent of its games in 2014-15, the Vancouver Canucks have sure had a lot of stinkers.

Last night’s 4-1 home loss to Colorado was just the latest fiasco, joining a list that includes a 6-2 home loss to Columbus, a 6-3 defeat in Buffalo, and a 5-0 home loss to Arizona.

And those were just the big losses to bad teams. The Canucks have also lost big to good teams.

In fact, only Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, Arizona, and Buffalo have lost more decisions by three or more goals than Vancouver, which has done it 15 times.

On the bright side, it’s been the Canucks’ ability to put those bad performances behind them that’s differentiated this season’s group from last season’s. Through 74 games, Vancouver has yet to fall into a prolonged slump. It lost five straight in December and three straight in January, but otherwise hasn’t gone longer than two games without a win.

“We’ve got to come back and just put this one in the garbage can,” captain Henrik Sedin said after last night’s no-show versus the Avs.

“We can play a lot better than this.”

They’ll have to when they host Dallas Saturday. Lose that -- against a Stars team that’s playing extremely well, by the way -- and the Canucks’ chances of making the playoffs won’t seem so certain as they embark on a four-game road trip to St. Louis, Nashville, Chicago and Winnipeg, with the Los Angeles Kings waiting when they get home.